Kumasi, March 3, GNA - The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) is equipping the 10 Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and 21 selected districts with computers to enhance data collection management of HIV/AIDS in the country.

The Commission has already presented three each to the Northern Region, Upper East and West Regions and one to the Brong Ahafo RCC. Mr Samuel Dery, Management Information System Officer of the Commission, announced this in Kumasi on Monday, when he presented a set of computers each to the Ashanti RCC, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mampong and Bekwai Municipal Assemblies and Atwima-Nwabiagya District.

Mr Dery, who presented the computers on behalf of the Director-General of the Commission, said that the Department for International Development, United Kingdom (UK) through UNAIDS and the GAC were funding the project, which formed part of a whole process to establish a comprehensive and functional data base system for HIV/AIDS in the country.

The Systems Officer commended the RCCs and the districts for their contributions towards combating AIDS, stressing that, there was a lot to be done to be able to scientifically to fight the disease. He called on the beneficiary establishments and stakeholders to take interest in HIVAIDS activities, and expressed the hope that the facilities would enable them to coordinate and monitor the exercises at all levels, to bring the disease under control. Miss Felicia Dapaah, Ashanti Regional Focal Person for AIDS, who received the computers, which cost A2GH7, 500, observed that data collection had been a major problem and expressed the hope that the facility would go a long way to resolve the problem. She said, "If we want to get the actual figure on the disease, we must be scientific and we believe this would help a great deal". 3 March 09